National Report by Australia SOT-IV 16-21 April 2007, Geneva, Switzerland Graeme Ball Australian Bureau of Meteorology with input from Ann Gronell (CSIRO),

National Report by AustraliaNational Report by Australia

SOT-IV16-21 April 2007, Geneva, Switzerland

Graeme Ball Australian Bureau of Meteorology

with input fromAnn Gronell (CSIRO), Krystyna Jankowska and Martin Rutherford

(DODC)

SOT-IV16-21 April 2007, Geneva, Switzerland

Graeme Ball Australian Bureau of Meteorology

with input fromAnn Gronell (CSIRO), Krystyna Jankowska and Martin Rutherford

(DODC)

16-21 April 2007 Australian National Report to SOT-IV, Geneva 2

OutlineOutline

• Participating Agencies.• Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet.• Australian XBT SOOP.• Complementary Programs to SOOP.• Port Meteorological Agents.• Awards and Certificates.• Goodwill.• Challenges and Difficulties.• Research and Development.

• Participating Agencies.• Australian Voluntary Observing Fleet.• Australian XBT SOOP.• Complementary Programs to SOOP.• Port Meteorological Agents.• Awards and Certificates.• Goodwill.• Challenges and Difficulties.• Research and Development.


Participating National AgenciesParticipating National Agencies

Agency Program

Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau) VOS, SOOP

Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and Research Organisation (CSIRO)

SOOP

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) VOS, SOOP

Defence Oceanographic Data Centre (DODC) SOOP (Data Management)

Joint Bureau/CSIRO Australian Facility for Ocean Observing Systems (JAFOOS)

SOOP (Data Management)


Australian Voluntary Observing FleetAustralian Voluntary Observing Fleet

• Comprises Australian and foreign-owned ships recruited to take, record and transmit weather observations whist at sea, but predominantly in the Australian region.

• Goals of the AVOF:» To maintain a fleet of 100 ships supplying an average of 2 obs

per day, per ship.» To provide real-time surface meteorological data of a high

quality to support the Bureau’s marine services, climate analysis and research, and end-user applications.

• Comprises Australian and foreign-owned ships recruited to take, record and transmit weather observations whist at sea, but predominantly in the Australian region.

• Goals of the AVOF:» To maintain a fleet of 100 ships supplying an average of 2 obs

per day, per ship.» To provide real-time surface meteorological data of a high

quality to support the Bureau’s marine services, climate analysis and research, and end-user applications.


Status of the AVOFStatus of the AVOF

VOS Class AVOF VOSClim(with TurboWin)

TurboWin (non-VOSClim)

ShipAWS

Selected 75 12 37 8

Supplementary 3 0 2 0

Auxiliary 1 0 0 0

TOTAL 79 12 39 8

TARGET 100 20

2006 Changes+ 15- 25

+ 1- 2

+ 9

- 9

+ 1

- 3

Nett Change - 10 - 1 0 - 2

75 %

(as at 31 Dec 2006)2007 Plans + 5 + 4


AVOF Observations Sent on the GTSAVOF Observations Sent on the GTS

~41500 BBXX from the AVOF sent on the GTS in 2006

(Not shown: ~3800 BBXX sent as SHIP from 38 RAN vessels)


AVOF Observing ProgramAVOF Observing Program

Component Manual Observation ShipAWS Observation

Observation times 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC Configurable, but generally every 3 hours when moving

Logbook TurboWin (preferred) Electronic

Transmission Inmarsat to a LES using free service SAC41 (or SAC1241 in AU region)

Inmarsat to Perth LES in data reporting mode

Data format BBXX Binary subset of the BBXX which is converted to a full BBXX by the Bureau

Lodgement on GTS NMS in the country hosting the receiving LES

Bureau


AVOF Meteorological InstrumentationAVOF Meteorological Instrumentation

Instrument Standard(VOSClim compliant)

ShipAWS

Barometer * Mk I DA or Mk II DA PTB220B

Barograph * 7-day Marine

Screen Marine (generally 2 per ship) DTR13 radiation shield

Thermometers 2 x Mercury-in-glass (wet & dry bulb) per screen

HMP45 humidity probe and RTD temperature probe

Anemometer Beaufort Scale (preferred) or ship’s-own anemometer

WAA151 cups and WAV151 vane

Sea Temp Engine intake (preferred) or bucket & sea thermometer

Engine intake or hull-contact sensor

* Set to read station level pressure


TurboWinTurboWin

• Re-packaged by the Bureau to include:» Bureau-prepared Installation Manual;» Bureau-prepared User Guide;» International PMO contact details;» List of LES that accept SAC41;» AU and NZ Radiofax Schedules; and» AU Radiofax Brochure;

• Configuration sheet:» Record the ship’s TurboWin setup parameters; and» Left onboard with the installation CD in case the

software needs to be re-installed.

• Re-packaged by the Bureau to include:» Bureau-prepared Installation Manual;» Bureau-prepared User Guide;» International PMO contact details;» List of LES that accept SAC41;» AU and NZ Radiofax Schedules; and» AU Radiofax Brochure;

• Configuration sheet:» Record the ship’s TurboWin setup parameters; and» Left onboard with the installation CD in case the

software needs to be re-installed.


ShipAWSShipAWS

• Remotely sensed:» AP, AT, RH, SST; and» Apparent WS and WD.

• Derived values:» DP, WB, PT; and» True WS and WD.

• Manual input of visual elements:» Cloud, weather, visibility, sea, swell.

• Remotely sensed:» AP, AT, RH, SST; and» Apparent WS and WD.

• Derived values:» DP, WB, PT; and» True WS and WD.

• Manual input of visual elements:» Cloud, weather, visibility, sea, swell.


MILOS 500Data Collectionand ProcessingSystemINSIDEBOX50SEquipmentEnclosure

Wind VaneWAV 151

AnemometerWAA 151

Cross ArmWAC 151

ShipAWSSYSTEM DIAGRAM

UPPER AIR AND MARINE LAB, SRUM JULY 2004

HMP 45D Humidity probeand RTD temperature probe inside DTR 13 Radiation Shield

‘Yourlink’ console on Ships bridge

CapSat

TT-3020B

MILOS 500

STATUS

RESET

RESET

STATUS

STATUS

ERROR

FULL

CHARGING

AC ON

PTB 220BBarometric pressuretransmitter installedon ship’s bridge

Data from Ship’s compassKoden gyro interface GRA-20A Gyro type _Tokyo Keiki Model 5000

Inside the AWS

RS232

RS232

RS232

RS232 Standard/RS422

Sea Surface Temperature

Iridium Modem

RS232 Inbuilt GPS


ShipAWS ConsoleShipAWS Console


VOS Quality MonitoringVOS Quality Monitoring

Source Frequency Parameters

Real-time feedback Occasional All parameters

Météo-France VOS QM Tools Weekly AP

RSMC QM Report Monthly AP, SST, AT, RH, WS, WD

RSMC Suspect Ship List Monthly AP, SST, AT, RH, WS, WD

RTMC VOSClim Suspect Ship List Monthly AP, SST, AT, RH, WS, WD

RSMC Timeliness of Observations Monthly BBXX Timeliness

Bureau Performance Report Monthly Count of received BBXX


Marine Climatological Summaries SchemeMarine Climatological Summaries Scheme

• MQCS compliant QC applied to the GTS real-time BBXX before archival in the Bureau’s climate database.

• Software under development in support of the MCSS:» Ingest of TurboWin IMMT log files;» Recover data not received in real-time from the GTS; and» Produce an archive file in IMMT-3 format for the MCSS.

• Plan will be to submit quarterly datasets to the GCCs.

• MQCS compliant QC applied to the GTS real-time BBXX before archival in the Bureau’s climate database.

• Software under development in support of the MCSS:» Ingest of TurboWin IMMT log files;» Recover data not received in real-time from the GTS; and» Produce an archive file in IMMT-3 format for the MCSS.

• Plan will be to submit quarterly datasets to the GCCs.


Australian XBT SOOPAustralian XBT SOOP

• Comprises Australian and foreign-owned ships recruited to routinely sample the upper 1000m of the ocean.

• Goals of Australian XBT SOOP:» To sample the XBT lines in accordance with the requirements

set by expert panels for GCOS/GOOS and supplemented by national requirements.

» To provide timely and high quality upper-ocean thermal (UOT) data to support oceanographic research, climate analysis and research, defence and fisheries.

» To meet agreed national and international obligations, and to advance national interests in, and through the exchange of physical oceanographic data.

• Comprises Australian and foreign-owned ships recruited to routinely sample the upper 1000m of the ocean.

• Goals of Australian XBT SOOP:» To sample the XBT lines in accordance with the requirements

set by expert panels for GCOS/GOOS and supplemented by national requirements.

» To provide timely and high quality upper-ocean thermal (UOT) data to support oceanographic research, climate analysis and research, defence and fisheries.

» To meet agreed national and international obligations, and to advance national interests in, and through the exchange of physical oceanographic data.


Australian XBT SOOP (cont)Australian XBT SOOP (cont)

• National Coordination:» Annual National SOOP Coordination Panel (NSCP) meetings

involving the Bureau, CSIRO, RAN, DODC and JAFOOS; and» Bi-monthly UOT meetings involving the Bureau and JAFOOS.

• Probes Supply:

• National Coordination:» Annual National SOOP Coordination Panel (NSCP) meetings

involving the Bureau, CSIRO, RAN, DODC and JAFOOS; and» Bi-monthly UOT meetings involving the Bureau and JAFOOS.

• Probes Supply:

Program Provider

Bureau Bureau, RAN, AOML

CSIRO RAN, SIO

RAN RAN


Status of the Australian XBT SOOPStatus of the Australian XBT SOOP

Line AgencyTarget Program 2006 Program

Mode Transects Profiles Transects Profiles Ships

IX01 Bureau FRX+ 52 1144 41 742 1

IX12 Bureau FRX 20 1100 7 376 6

IX22 Bureau FRX 20 400 7 165 2

PX11 Bureau FRX 20 640 3 64 1

PX02 Bureau FRX 26 366 13 223 1

IX28 CSIRO HDX 6* 600 5 399 1

PX30 CSIRO HDX 4 500 3 328 1

PX34 CSIRO HDX 4 280 3 196 2

- RAN - - - - 1877 14

* Austral Summer only.


Shipboard XBT SystemShipboard XBT System

Agency Probe Type Interface Acquisition Software

BureauDeep Blue USB

Windows-based Devil XBT System (joint CSIRO/Bureau project).CSIRO

RANT4, T5, T7, T10

& Deep BlueMk12, Mk21 & Devil XBT

Windows-based Mk12 & Mk21 software developed under contract by Sippican. Windows-based Devil XBT System


Devil XBT SystemDevil XBT System

Bureau’s implementation of the Devil XBT


BATHY on the GTS in 2006BATHY on the GTS in 2006

Agency JJVV Comment

Bureau 719Manual QC and placement on the GTS until the QC procedures in the Devil XBT System are modified.

CSIRO 426JJVV are placed on the GTS by SIO after each voyage if the data are still real-time (i.e. within 30 days).

RAN 149Placed on the GTS by the Bureau. Many more JJVV are sent as SHIP.

1294


Delayed-Mode XBT Data in 2006Delayed-Mode XBT Data in 2006


Exchange of XBT DatasetsExchange of XBT Datasets

• Bureau and CSIRO:» Annual submission of UOT datasets to NODC and DODC;» Inter-agency exchange; and» Datasets distributed in MEDS-ASCII format with international QC

flags appended.

• DODC:» ‘Good’ raw profiles sent to NODC annually; and» Dataset in MarineXML format, including RNZN data.

• Bureau and CSIRO:» Annual submission of UOT datasets to NODC and DODC;» Inter-agency exchange; and» Datasets distributed in MEDS-ASCII format with international QC

flags appended.

• DODC:» ‘Good’ raw profiles sent to NODC annually; and» Dataset in MarineXML format, including RNZN data.


JAFOOSJAFOOS

• Provides scientific QC of the Bureau’s delayed-mode XBT data.

• Provides scientific QC of the Bureau’s delayed-mode XBT data.


Complementary Programs to SOOPComplementary Programs to SOOP

• Argo Australia:» Partnership established in 2001 between the Bureau and CSIRO

(additional contributions provided by the ACE-CRC* and RAN);» Annual meeting held jointly with the NSCP; and» Floats deployed in the eastern Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean,

Coral Sea and Tasman Sea.

• Multi-Disciplinary Sampling:» Sea-surface temperature and salinity;» Atmospheric and surface ocean carbon; and» Fluorescence and pigments.

• Argo Australia:» Partnership established in 2001 between the Bureau and CSIRO

(additional contributions provided by the ACE-CRC* and RAN);» Annual meeting held jointly with the NSCP; and» Floats deployed in the eastern Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean,

Coral Sea and Tasman Sea.

• Multi-Disciplinary Sampling:» Sea-surface temperature and salinity;» Atmospheric and surface ocean carbon; and» Fluorescence and pigments.

} By CSIRO on IX28

* Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem Cooperative Research Centre


Port Meteorological AgentsPort Meteorological Agents

• Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney:» Part-time contractors;» Full range of PMO services to the AVOF and global VOF;» Ship-greetings to the Bureau’s XBT SOOP; and» Regular support to other Bureau marine programs.

• Other capital city and provincial ports:» Full-time Bureau Regional Office and Field Office staff;» Limited range of PMO services, generally ‘on-request’; and» Occasional support to other Bureau marine programs.

• Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney:» Part-time contractors;» Full range of PMO services to the AVOF and global VOF;» Ship-greetings to the Bureau’s XBT SOOP; and» Regular support to other Bureau marine programs.

• Other capital city and provincial ports:» Full-time Bureau Regional Office and Field Office staff;» Limited range of PMO services, generally ‘on-request’; and» Occasional support to other Bureau marine programs.


Port Meteorological Agents (cont)Port Meteorological Agents (cont)

22 (2)

Distribution of AVOF and (XBT) ships at 31 Dec 2006 Distribution of AVOF and (XBT) ships at 31 Dec 2006

3

3

1

18 (4)

25 (1)

1

6


Port Meteorological Agents (cont)Port Meteorological Agents (cont)

2006 Activities

Routine visits to the AVOF 185

Courtesy visits to the AVOF 14

Courtesy visits to non-VOS or foreign-VOS 67

Recruitment or de-recruitment visits to AVOF or XBT SOOP 52

Ship-greetings to the XBT SOOP 44

Courtesy visits to load drifting buoys 36

Courtesy visits to load profiling floats 0


Awards and CertificatesAwards and Certificates

• Bureau – Ship’s Excellence Award» Maximum of 2 Ship’s Awards per year per PMA;» Member of the AVOF with minimum of five years service; and» High standard of observations for at least the last five years.

• VOSClim – Certificate of Participation» Presented to each ship recruited to the AU VOSClim fleet.

• SOT – Certificate of Appreciation» Reserved for the XBT SOOP (and possibly VOSClim) ships; but» No awards yet due to the high turn-over of ships.

• Bureau – Ship’s Excellence Award» Maximum of 2 Ship’s Awards per year per PMA;» Member of the AVOF with minimum of five years service; and» High standard of observations for at least the last five years.

• VOSClim – Certificate of Participation» Presented to each ship recruited to the AU VOSClim fleet.

• SOT – Certificate of Appreciation» Reserved for the XBT SOOP (and possibly VOSClim) ships; but» No awards yet due to the high turn-over of ships.


GoodwillGoodwill

• Bureau/AMOS Calendar.

• Christmas Card.

• Bureau of Meteorology Cap.

• Ocean Views Newsletter.

• Bureau/AMOS Calendar.

• Christmas Card.

• Bureau of Meteorology Cap.

• Ocean Views Newsletter.


Challenges and DifficultiesChallenges and Difficulties

• Volatility in the shipping industry – high turnover.

• Ship safety and security.

• Request for payment to make VOS observations.

• Communication with non-English speaking crews.

• Missed observations due to other ship’s commitments.

• Introduction of the Devil XBT – QC and formats.

• Volatility in the shipping industry – high turnover.

• Ship safety and security.

• Request for payment to make VOS observations.

• Communication with non-English speaking crews.

• Missed observations due to other ship’s commitments.

• Introduction of the Devil XBT – QC and formats.


Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

• MCSS software development.

• Tested IMMT-3 & BBXX generated by RAN’s RAIDEN.

• New release of Devil XBT due mid-2007.

• MQUEST by CSIRO for delayed-mode XBT QC.

• Electronic transfer of delayed-mode XBT data from RAN ships.

• MCSS software development.

• Tested IMMT-3 & BBXX generated by RAN’s RAIDEN.

• New release of Devil XBT due mid-2007.

• MQUEST by CSIRO for delayed-mode XBT QC.

• Electronic transfer of delayed-mode XBT data from RAN ships.


Documents

National Report by Australia SOT-IV 16-21 April 2007, Geneva, Switzerland Graeme Ball Australian Bureau of Meteorology with input from Ann Gronell (CSIRO),